From Educator to $10K/Month Transcriptionist: Jack’s Success Story
Apr 01, 2025
At Transcribe Anywhere, we love seeing our students thrive, and Jack Donley is a perfect example of how transcription can transform lives. A former teacher and middle-school dean, Jack turned to transcription and built a thriving business, Alliance Transcription, that now earns him $10,000 per month—all while enjoying the flexibility and freedom he never had in his previous career.
Read on to learn how he made the switch, scaled his income, and why he recommends Transcribe Anywhere to anyone looking for a rewarding, high-paying career.
From Education to Transcription
Before starting transcription, Jack worked in education while doing proofreading for court reporters as a side income. His sister, a court reporter and transcriptionist, had been encouraging him for years to give transcription a shot.
When he learned that Washington State requires AAERT certification to transcribe court proceedings, he looked into recommended training programs and found Transcribe Anywhere. Compared to other certification prep courses, TA stood out as the most affordable, high-quality option.
“Transcribe Anywhere was significantly less expensive than the other recommended programs, and it gave me everything I needed to get certified.” - Jack Donley
Training & Getting Started
Jack’s experience with Transcribe Anywhere was smooth and efficient.
- He completed the course in just a few months (though he notes that his background in English and proofreading helped speed things up).
- The personalized feedback on assignments and assessments was one of the most valuable parts of the training.
- By the time he finished, he felt completely prepared to take on real transcription work—and he was.
“I was surprised at how easy it was to get personalized attention and quick responses to my emails.”
How Jack Built a $10K/Month Transcription Business
Jack didn’t start marketing until after he had his AAERT certification and got on court-approved transcription lists—a move that gave him an instant edge.
🔹 Landing Clients: He emailed law firms and court reporting agencies with the subject “AAERT-Certified, Court-Approved Transcriptionist Available”—and almost immediately started getting responses.
🔹 Focusing on Legal Transcription: Jack specializes in formal legal proceedings (trials and hearings). He avoids body cams and 911 calls because they’re significantly more difficult to transcribe.
🔹 Scaling to $10K/Month:
✅ Obsessive Accuracy – Jack proofreads carefully, double-checks speaker attributions, and researches legal references to ensure flawless transcripts.
✅ Detailed Indexing – His transcripts include thorough indexes, making them more valuable to attorneys.
✅ Underpromise & Overdeliver – Jack delivers transcripts earlier than promised, building strong client trust.
✅ AI Assistance – He uses AI-generated drafts to speed up production, though he still listens to every word for accuracy.
“I wouldn’t be able to produce at this level if I had to type out every word from scratch.”
Flexibility & Freedom
Jack doesn’t work a strict 9-to-5 schedule—he structures his day around his life.
- Morning Routine: Starts working at 5 a.m., takes a break at 7 a.m. for a dog walk, then practices guitar.
- Work-Life Balance: Uses bone-conducting headphones to transcribe while doing home projects or talking with family.
- Complete Control: Can accept or decline work as needed, giving him the freedom to plan vacations and daily life on his terms.
“I love having the ability to arrange my work around my life instead of the other way around.”
Why Jack Recommends Transcribe Anywhere
💡 Would Jack recommend Transcribe Anywhere to others? ABSOLUTELY!
💬 “There’s no reason to pay more for a program when this one has everything you need.”
✅ Most important skills for success?
- Attention to detail
- Accuracy
- Dependability
- High standards
Ready to Start Your Own Transcription Journey?
Jack turned a $600 investment into a $10K/month career. Even for those looking for a side hustle, many of our graduates earn $40K/year working part-time.
💰 Interested to start earning as a transcriptionist? As a thanks for reading this blog, use code JACK20 and receive 20% off ANY course
Your dream career is waiting—are you ready to take the first step?